Posted on 09/23/2006 5:59:13 PM PDT by hiho hiho
Rick Warren's "Purpose-Driven" church model is being blamed in a developing split in one of the Southern Baptist Convention's most prominent churches.
Two weeks ago the Wall Street Journal carried a front-page story saying Warren's church-growth methods--which include replacing hymns, choirs and pews with rock-style praise bands and laid-back sermons--were dividing the country's 50 million evangelicals.
Baptist Press defended Warren, a Southern Baptist, by implying the Journal story made a mountain out of a molehill.
"The 2,200-word story cites four congregations where upheaval occurred from a move toward the principles espoused by Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of the best-seller Purpose-Driven Life," wrote a BP staff writer. "The story, however, does not relay any estimates of the extent of problems nationwide stemming from Warren's Purpose-Driven methods."
But a Web site nearing 60,000 visitors criticizes several changes at the 30,000-member Bellevue Baptist Church near Memphis, Tenn., since last year's retirement and subsequent death of its legendary pastor, Adrian Rogers.
One of the largest churches in the Mid-South, Bellevue has been led by just four pastors in the last 79 years: R.G. Lee, 1927-1960; Ramsey Pollard, 1960-72; Rogers, 1972-2005; and since last September, Steve Gaines, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Ala.
Gaines' honeymoon is apparently over for some long-time church members, who criticize what they view as excessive salaries, moving away from congregational leadership toward an elder-led system and unpopular staff changes, including forcing out and replacing a long-term music director.
They also criticize Gaines' leadership style, claiming he is arrogant, uses intimidation and pressed forward with changes instead of giving the church time to grieve following their beloved emeritus pastor's death from cancer in November 2005.
Gaines denied in the Memphis Commercial-Appeal the church is departing from its Southern Baptist roots or is part of the church-growth movement, but acknowledged that some had criticized the blending of contemporary and traditional church music in worship.
The "Saving Bellevue" Web site, however, includes articles seeking assurances the new pastor isn't trying to move the church toward "Warrenism" and quotations from Warren's "Ministry Toolbox" playbook on transitioning a traditional church to a Purpose-Driven model.
"Not only do we need to take a stand for our church, but we--EVERY BLOOD BOUGHT CHRISTIAN--needs to take a stand against this Rick Warren Revolution!" wrote one commenter in a blog section.
"I have been a member of Bellevue since 1952, when I was 17 years old," wrote another. "I have been in the choir since 1960. Every time my mail comes I look for the letter telling me that I am no longer needed in the choir, that I am too old. I do not clap and stomp. I do not wave my hands."
Other grievances include a story about Gaines sending staff to discourage a particular long-time church member from saying "Amen," during worship services. One version of the story says Gaines issued the order after hearing in a dream the man was under demonic influence and needed to be silenced before the next Sunday. Gaines denies the dream ever happened, claiming the "Amens" were a distraction and hurting his concentration.
Other rumors are that Gaines negotiated a salary twice the size of his predecessor, one figure tossed around was $500,000. Gaines and others said the church doesn't disclose salaries, but his isn't nearly that high. Questions about hiring, firing and staff compensation allegedly went unanswered, and church members were refused copies of the church bylaws.
One former deacon and long-time member gave an on-line interview describing how, after asking questions about compensation and other administrative matters, four uninvited visitors, including Gaines, came to his home in a gated community, climbing over a fence marked with a no-trespassing sign.
The four men said the visit was an attempt to seek reconciliation, but the homeowner, Mark Sharpe, who wasn't at home when it occurred, viewed it as intimidation.
He said Gaines called him after 11:00 one evening and told him he was "Hezbollah" and personally sending people to hell by his actions.
"I informed him that I didn't have the power to send anyone to hell," Sharpe said. "I have to admit, I was shaken by the words I heard my pastor speak to me. I was shaken to the bone but reminded that these were not the actions of a pastor."
Gaines said the Web site contains "insinuations and downright falsifications," and he believes it is creating confusion in the church.
The Sept. 5 Wall Street Journal story detailed criticisms of "Purpose-Driven" attempts to attract non-believers with lively worship services, practical sermons and chances to volunteer. Critics question the use of secular marketing methods and simplistic Bible study.
Among churches split after adopting Warren's techniques, the story said, is Valley View Christian Church in Dallas, the former church of failed Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers.
Ron Key, the church's senior minister, was demoted and later fired for criticizing the "Madison Avenue" approach advocated by Warren. Key and about 200 other members began worshipping in a hotel and later a college gym. Miers reportedly attends when she is in town.
Key's replacement at Valley View was Barry McCarty, longtime parliamentarian for the Southern Baptist Convention.
"Our church used the five purposes from the Purpose-Drive Life as the outline for our strategic plan, because they are the purposes for the church that are revealed in Scripture," McCarty told Baptist Press. "It ought to be noted that Rick Warren did not invent these five purposes" [worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism]. "He simply popularized them."
"Rick got these five purposes from the Bible," McCarty said. "Rick's heart is the same place that our hearts are: We want to do what God has assigned us to do as individuals and as a church."
cult of personality.
I know SO MANY people who (women in particular) who attend a church because of the preacher. Their comments are usually along the lines of "He is just SO GOOD."
It is possible that the guy just is a really good Bible teacher. Anything wrong with that?
bump
That is a very deep analogy. Unfortunately, many people will not comprehend it. But it is good!
Not more righteous no, but more appropriate yes. It's not just a matter of different times. There was all kinds of music in the 16th century that was more akin to what rock is today--dancing, exhuberant music with drums and stringed instruments. But that stuff wasn't used in churches back then--because they thought (and rightly I think) that it wasn't appropriate.
Likewise...do you think Christ and the Apostles were using the "popular" music of the time liturgically? Bust out the harps and the cymbals and drums and play the music that was typically heard on the stage or in the theater? No, they were singing psalms, and using chants as old as the hills--probably similarly to the way that Jewish folks continue to chant today.
Can rock n' roll be Godly and devout? Of course! But does it give the kind of sacred, quiet and prayerful atmosphere that belongs in church? Or is it more conducive to jumping around and emotionalism?
I can respect your preference, as long as you respect the preference of others (which you don't).
Yes, those smiling faces can work wonders ... look at Clinton ... many women were wooed by HIM.
I think you may wish to look further into the church subversion and power moves of Warrenism.
The Gaines guy sounds like he's on a power trip. I don't see anything that he's doing that can be directly traced back to Saddleback Church or Rick Warren.
It comes down to what's right and what's wrong. Not just preference. Not everybody can be right. What's wrong with that?
Uh, yeah.
Organ right. Guitar wrong.
How can anyone argue with your theology?
"Organ, right; guitar, wrong" is too simplistic. There is some beautiful guitar music.
What we have for church musicians in general are those who haven't aspired for the higher levels- they prefer to emulate rock stars.
I think we should allow a lot more than what we do.
Yesterday, a man sat down in front of me in a Harley Davidson t-shirt, tatoos down each arm and skull/crossbones rings on each finger.
My kids looked at me trying not to laugh.
Well, guess who got saved?
If your church is growing and people are drawn to your church because of your organ music, then I guess you may have a point.
If not, then we may have found a reason why.
Hmmmm. I could not find the word, "Liturgical" in the Bible, even in the King James Version. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=liturgical&version1=9&searchtype=all
Way too much importance is placed upon music. If rock style music is the only way churches think they can evangelize - there's something wrong.
My church in Grants Pass is a former Baptist church that is now a Warren-type "praise and worship" church where thewy applaud after every few songs, and sing silly, simplistic songs like "God is a friend of mine, He calls me friend," and other songs that say nothing but "We love Him" without ev er mentioning who "Him" is...you could be singing about Zoraster or Allah!
In fact yesterday they played the first song in a Parliament, George Clinton HORRIBLE Funk rithym, completely bizarre and weird.
BUT, when Mark started preaching, WOW! He talked about divorce, and how it's wrong for Chritians to divorce, and how modern American Chrstians think it's more important to feel happy than to live according to Biblical principles, and how, if a Chrstian divorces his or her spouse, except for adultery, and marries another, is commiting adultery according to the Bible.
Then, at the prayer at the end of the sermon, Mark prayed that all who have divorced un-Biblically to marry another repent of their adultery.
You could hear people crying throughout the congregation...it was really moving.
So, even though I dislike the silly, simplistic songs, and the Hawaiian shorts and flip-flops, and the goofy applauding after every song like we are watching Friday Night Football with Jesus who just scored a touchdown, I'm staying here because the sermons are so powerful.
Ed
Try the Greek: leitourgia/leitourgikos, etc. Sometimes it's translated as "ministry" or some such. Here are some references.
From Greek it went to Latin whence it came into English liturgy/liturgical. Perfectly biblical word.
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